MINUTES of the Quarterly Meeting of the Association held on Friday 14 th July 2017 at the Civic Halls Connah s Quay

Transcription

1 MINUTES of the Quarterly Meeting of the Association held on Friday 14 th July 2017 at the Civic Halls Connah s Quay Attendance Record Council Present Apologies Officers ABERGELE TOWN ARGOED COMMUNITY BANGOR CITY BAGILLT COMMUNITY BAY OF COLWYN TOWN BUCKLEY TOWN CAERWYS TOWN CAIA PARK COMMUNITY CONCIL CONNAH S QUAY TOWN CONWY TOWN DENBIGH TOWN FLINT TOWN HAWARDEN COMMUNITY HOLYWELL TOWN Cllr B C Roberts (Chair) Robert Robinson (Secretary) Cllr Richard Waters Cllr S Jones-Roberts Cllr J Holiday Cllr D Hainge I Jones Town Clerk Cllr C R Williams Cllr J Pearson Cllr B Barton Cllr P Richards Cllr A Woolley Cllr Blondek Cllr L Edwards Cllr C Risley Cllr P Atridge Cllr E Faulkner Cllr P Davies S Goodrum (Clerk) Cllr S Barber Bailey Cllr H Roberts Cllr R Tickle Cllr A Loveridge Cllr A Diskin Cllr J Baker Cllr Karin Davies Cllr P Johnson Cllr D Phelan 1 Cllr H Meredith (Vice Chair Cllr Joan Butterfield (President) Cllr I James Tina Earley Clerk

2 LLANFAIR CAEREINION TOWN LLANDUDNO TOWN LLANASA TOWN LLANFAIRFECHAN TOWN LLANDRINO & ARDLEEN COMMUNITY LLANDYSILIO COMMUNITY LLANGOLLEN TOWN MENAI BRIDGE TOWN PENMAENMAWR TOWN PRESTATYN TOWN RHUDDLAN TOWN RHYL TOWN RUTHIN TOWN SHOTTON TOWN ST ASAPH CITY TOWYN AND KINMELL BAY TOWN WELSHPOOL TOWN Cllr M Lyon Cllr D M Davies Cllr M Baines Mel Ab-Owain Town Clerk Cllr J Chamberlain-Jones Cllr A James G Nickels Clerk Cllr S L Beach Cllr K Allsorp-Robson Cllr D Mickle Cllr B McLoughlin Cllr M Jones Cllr H Chave Cllr F Veenstra Viki Griffiths Clerk Cllr S Harms C Davies (Clerk) C Davies (Clerk) Cllr Frances Buckingham Cllr Y Owens Cllr D Senior 1. Minutes of the last meeting The meeting approved the minutes of the last quarterly meeting. 2. Actions taken since the last meeting The meeting received a report on actions taken since the last meeting. 2

3 3. Financial Report The meeting receive the financial report. 4. Executive The meeting received the minutes of the Executive Meeting. The Secretary confirmed that the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales is to attend the October meeting. 5. Local Government Re-organisation The meeting considered an update on the Local Government Review. It appears that a statement from the Minister is imminent on Town and Community Councils and their future. A Commission is being set up to take the subject forward reporting in a year. 6. Recycling and Fly Tipping To consider an update on Powys Re-cycling situation. There was much concern over this subject and the meeting agreed that aiming at the source is the right approach. Cllr B Barton is suggested that the subject could be a case study via an educational establishment. The meeting AGREED the following actions: The secretary should write to all County Councils, AM s, PM s and the Betsw Cadwalader Trust seeking their support in recyclable packaging at source and making them aware of the recycling percentages of 50% alcohol related, 25% smoking, 20% fast food and 5% remainder. The Secretary should meet the Ministers Office (when he meets them over other subjects) to take forward the idea of recyclable packaging. The secretary to liaise with Cllr Woolly who has some knowledge of the subject. 7. Remuneration Panel for Wales The meeting considered an update from Member Councils on their approach to the report given at the last meeting. Very few were impressed with the proposals on allowances presented at the April meeting. Most Councils have rejected taking any allowances. The meeting AGREED that the Secretary should write to Welsh Government suggesting that rules, such as this one, should be funded by Welsh Government and that rules should not be made up costing others. 3

4 8. Montgomeryshire Canal The meeting considered writing a letter of support to the re-opening of the Montgomeryshire Canal from Pant to Newtown in Powys and asking the Welsh Government to give a priority to such a project. The Secretary gave an outline of the current progress on the project. The meeting AGREED to send a letter of support as requested. 9. Rail Franchise for Wales To consider sending a formal letter to Welsh Government and the Welsh Transport Delivery Unit stating the policy of the association as follows: To support the electrification of the North Wales Coast rail line. (Holyhead to Crewe) To support the introduction of a full hourly service on the main Cambrian line. The meeting discussed a number of issues which included: Carriage shortages. Connections to the North West. The need for a survey along the North Coast similar to that completed on the Cambrian Lines. The meeting AGREED that the secretary should pass on the views of the meeting to the Welsh Government Franchise Team. 10. Future Plan for the Association 2017 to 2022 Education Debate The meeting held a debate on the education system and the All Wales Estyn Report. The main points are as follows: i) The standards in education are the same as always, it is achievement that is under scrutiny. ii) Maths means numeracy. iii) Targets need to create an environment whereby young person s achieve improvement not reaching a set standard. iv) Money formula an issue. v) Small Schools was an issue to some the views varied from them being uneconomical to the need to keep them in the community. vi) Budgets and the way they are administered needs review. vii) Top slicing for management costs by County Councils needs review. viii) The method of deciding what schools should close or stay open needs more understanding and possibly review. 4

5 The secretary is to prepare a paper to go with an invitation to Kirsty Williams Minister to speak to the Association. 11. Dates of future meetings The meeting agreed the dates of the year s meetings as follows: Quarterly Meetings Friday 27th October Holywell Friday 19 th January 2018 Bay of Colwyn Friday 20th April Welshpool Friday 20 th July 2018 the Civic Halls of Connah s Quay. All meetings start at 10.30am Executive Meetings Friday 22nd September 2017 Friday 8th December 2017 Friday 9 th March 2018 Friday 8 th June am start in all cases. Meetings held at Rhyl Town Council Offices. 12. Actions taken forward. The following actions are to be taken forward: The secretary should write to all County Councils, AM s, PM s and the Betsw Cadwallader Trust seeking their support in recyclable packaging at source and making them aware of the recycling percentages of 50% alcohol related, 25% smoking, 20% fast food and 5% remainder. The Secretary should meet the Ministers Office (when he meets them over other subjects) to take forward the idea of recyclable packaging. The secretary to liaise with Cllr Woolly who has some knowledge of the subject. The Secretary to write to Welsh Government suggesting that rules, such as this one, should be funded by Welsh Government and that rules should not be made up costing others. The secretary to write to the appropriate bodies in support of the re-opening of the Montgomeryshire Canal. Letter to Welsh Government on rail matters. The secretary is to prepare a paper on education to go with an invitation to Kirsty Williams Minister to speak to the Association. 5